By: Rhona O'Connell, Head of Market Analysis
We noted last week that disappointing US economic numbers had raised talk of a Fed pivot sooner rather than later and that the markets had reacted accordingly. The initial reaction to the Fed statement on Wednesday last week, following the Committee’s two-day meeting, saw gold spike higher and the dollar drop sharply, as it looked as if there was indeed going to be some flexibility with a bias towards the dovish side.
Fed Chair Jay Powell put paid to that very quickly in his Press Conference and as we write almost a week later the bond markets are currently pricing in a 60 basis point interest from the current effective rate of 3.83%, so we are now almost back in the same position as a week ago, with a 70% probability of a 75-point hike. The difference though is that the market is now expecting the peak to be in June, whereas a week ago the target peak was May. The market is discounting a peak of 5.1%, which still looks too benign; at least one Fed official is postulating a terminal level of 6%.
The essential difference between the November statement and those that preceded it was the addition of the assessment of the “cumulative tightening of monetary policy” and the lags with which monetary policy affects economic and financial developments.
This was the cue for the markets to expect a softer stance, until Chair Powell restored the status quo. Probably the most revealing comment came in response to a question (as is so often the case), as follows:
“There will be “tons of confusion” out there about the size of the next hike – can you say which way the bias will lie?”
The answer was along these lines:
I will put the question of pace into the context of our broader tightening programme: the programme addresses three questions – a) how fast to go? b) how high to raise the policy rate? c) how long to remain at a restrictive level? [this wasn’t answered as there was an intervention].
a) this year's historically fast pace.is “certainly appropriate”
b) the policy rate needs to be the level that levers inflation down to 2%; there is some ground to cover before we get there. Incoming data – labour and especially CPI - suggest that they may move to a higher level than projected at the September meeting. The time to slow increases is coming; maybe December or the following meeting”. This will be discussed in December.
Don’t forget about China…
Shanghai Shenzhen index; the HK & Shanghai property index
By the close of the New York trading day after the FOMC meeting, gold was trading in the $1,635 region, lower than when the day had opened. There was some further slippage as the dollar strengthened on the Thursday, but conditions have changed since, and as we write the dollar is at week-long lows. The initial force behind this appears to be the resurgence in Chinese equities last week, on the back of a rumoured re-opening of the country, a change in direction from the lockdown policies implemented thus far. (This was only a rumour and the country is awaiting a report that is due to be released by the Chinese authorities this Wednesday 9th November), although the sounds coming from the Government suggest that there is nothing in it.
… and back to the States
The U.S. employment numbers, released last Friday, were mixed, with a rise in unemployment, although hiring and wage increases were both strong and this prompted a sharp drop in the dollar as it rekindled talk of a pivot; gold responded accordingly and tested three-week highs at $1,685; as we write prices are looking to stabilise. The technical picture is improving, with the 10D moving average about to cross the 20D to the upside.
Silver has outperformed gold, as is the usual pattern when gold is showing a defined bull trend, with the ratio closing down to 81, having been over 90 in mid-October; the ratio is now at its lowest since late April.
US fed funds rates and projections
Gold, the dollar and their correlation
Gold and silver, 2022 to date
Market developments
Key charts
Gold in dollar terms, year-to-date; technical indicators. Consolidating and the technical indicators are improving
Gold (inverted) and the ten-year yield
Gold and the S&P; ratio
Gold and silver COMEX positioning, tonnes
Gold: -
Silver: -
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A document with a substantial number of slides and text, built for the Front Desk internal call and analysing market developments, the economic and political background and key market parameters influencing the precious metals. This week includes material on the Precious Metals, notably Gold's lively action; Powell and the Fed, EU and potential margin compression
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